Seven vying for Roosevelt County fair honors

Special to the PNT

Special to the PNT

Seven Roosevelt County girls will be competing for the Queen, Princess and Sweetheart titles Tuesday at the Roosevelt County Fairgrounds.

The day will being with the horsemanship contest in the fair arena followed by the personality contest in the Jake Lopez Center. Under the direction of Dela Davis, this contest is open to girls ages 6-19. The queen will represent Roosevelt County at the 2005 New Mexico State Fair Queen contest. The reigning state fair queen, Silver Paiz of Roosevelt County, has been helping the girls by sponsoring a clinic earlier this year. Also, Donna Tivis has been conducting horsemanship classes.

Sweetheart

Sweetheart contestants are between the ages of 6 and 8. This year’s contestants are Kelsea Toombs and Arianne Cox.

Toombs, age 8, is the daughter of Dan and Tammy Toombs and is a third-grader at James Elementary. She is a member of the Little Wranglers Junior Rodeo Association, the American Quarter Horse Association and the All Breed Horse Show Association. She also plays basketball, soccer and T-ball. Toombs would like to be a horse trainer.

Cox is the 7-year-old daughter of Tom and Robin Cox of Pep and is a second-grader at Dora Elementary School. Her ambition is to graduate with honors from high school and receive a degree in animal science. Cox is a member of the Blue Ribbon 4-H, All Bree Horse Show Association and the Little Wranglers Junior Rodeo Association. She enjoys showing horses, running barrels and poles, dancing ballet and playing basketball with Little Dribblers. She would like to specialize in equine behavior modification.

Princess

Four girls will be competing for the title of Fair Princess. They are Autumn Cathey, Kayla Hight, Leeanne Bispo and Tiffany Kendrick.

Cathey is the 11-year-old daughter of Bill and Joeli Cathey. She is a sixth-grader at Elida Elementary School. Her ambition is to be high school valedictorian and attend college to become a teacher. She is a member of Little Wranglers Junior Rodeo Association, Muleshoe Young Riders Rodeo Club, All Breed Horse Show Association and the Causey 4-H Club. Her hobbies include volleyball, basketball, rodeo and writing. Her ambition in life is to use the gifts God has given her to the best of her ability in all situations. She would like to be the princess to represent Roosevelt County across the state and be a positive Christian role model for younger girls.

Hight is the 12-year-old daughter of Chris and Katie Hammock and is a sixth-grader at Lindsey Middle School. Hight would like to study to be an equine veterinarian. She is a member of the Arch 4-H Club and enjoys hanging out with friends and riding horseback. She also plays soccer. Hight would like to be the princess for the experience, the chance to meet new people, learn to be a team with her horse and for the competition.

Bispo is the 15-year-old daughter of Larry and Jerry Bispo. Bispo will be a junior at Portales High School this year. She would like to compete college with a degree in animal science and veterinary medicine. Bispo is a member of the Rodeo and Show 4-H Club, Little Wranglers Junior Rodeo Association and the American Junior Paint Horse Association. Her hobbies are to ride and train her horse, participate in rodeos, show horses, play pool, soccer, basketball and reading. Bispo also enjoys public speaking and meeting new people. She would like to somebody become Miss Rodeo America and represent Roosevelt County and New Mexico at other queen contests.

Kendrick is the 12-year-old daughter of Andy and Anna Parks and will be a seventh-grader at Floyd Schools. Her ambition is to become a pediatric nurse. Her hobbies include cheerleading, basketball and horses.

Queen

The lone queen contestant is Desiree Markham, the 16-year-old daughter of Cynthia Markham and Robert Fraze.

Markham will be a senior this year at Portales High School. Her ambition is to obtain a broadcast journalism degree with a minor in theatre from Eastern New Mexico University, then earn a master’s degree in theatre from Florida State University. Markham is a member of ASTRA, All Breed Horse Show Association, Thespian Club and the American Quarter Horse Youth Association. She is presently the treasurer of ASTRA. Her hobbies include dancing, horseback riding, reading and swimming. Markham’s ambition is to become a Christian witness in her chosen profession of acting and broadcast journalism.

Helping with the contest activities this year will be last year’s winners — Queen Adrienne Coe, Princess Aubrey Love and Sweetheart Rachel Cox. Local businesses have donated prizes and gifts for the contestants.

For information, fairbooks and entry forms for the fair, visit the County Extension Office at 705 E. Lime or call 356-4417.